Three Men Charged in One of the Biggest Poaching Busts in Wyoming History

[UngulateNerd92]

Three men have been convicted in one of Wyoming's largest poaching cases ever. According to a Wyoming Game and Fish Department (WGFD) press release, Russell Vick, Robert Underwood, and David Underwood were charged with more than 100 wildlife-related crimes after an investigation that spanned four different states and stretched all the way back to October 2015. The men were accused of poaching elk, moose, mule deer, bighorn sheep, pronghorn antelope, wild turkeys, and numerous other species. Punishments for their violations include more than $300,000 in combined fines and restitution, prison time, and lifetime hunting and fishing bans.

Three Men Charged in One of the Biggest Poaching Busts in Wyoming History

 

[TinoPup]

Three men have been convicted in one of Wyoming's largest poaching cases ever. According to a Wyoming Game and Fish Department (WGFD) press release, Russell Vick, Robert Underwood, and David Underwood were charged with more than 100 wildlife-related crimes after an investigation that spanned four different states and stretched all the way back to October 2015. The men were accused of poaching elk, moose, mule deer, bighorn sheep, pronghorn antelope, wild turkeys, and numerous other species. Punishments for their violations include more than $300,000 in combined fines and restitution, prison time, and lifetime hunting and fishing bans.

Three Men Charged in One of the Biggest Poaching Busts in Wyoming History

Wow. That punishment alone tells you how massive this was, given poaching is usually a slap on the wrist!

 

[Nile Hippo Expert]

Three men have been convicted in one of Wyoming's largest poaching cases ever. According to a Wyoming Game and Fish Department (WGFD) press release, Russell Vick, Robert Underwood, and David Underwood were charged with more than 100 wildlife-related crimes after an investigation that spanned four different states and stretched all the way back to October 2015. The men were accused of poaching elk, moose, mule deer, bighorn sheep, pronghorn antelope, wild turkeys, and numerous other species. Punishments for their violations include more than $300,000 in combined fines and restitution, prison time, and lifetime hunting and fishing bans.

Three Men Charged in One of the Biggest Poaching Busts in Wyoming History

That is serious! Three people getting fines of a hundred thousand dollars (splitting three hundred thousand dollars between them), and getting sent to prison! This must have been a very horrible thing for Wyoming's wildlife workers to hear. The three poachers definitely got what they deserved!

 

[UngulateNerd92]

Wow. That punishment alone tells you how massive this was, given poaching is usually a slap on the wrist!

Oh absolutely! Penalties for poaching often do seem to be too lenient, and this is one of the things I believe is accelerating our biodiversity loss crisis. For example, many of the charges for individuals poaching Totoaba (Totoaba macdonaldi) in the Gulf of California, and contributing to the near-extinction of the Vaquita (Phocoena sinus) are merely a slap on the wrist. As far as I understand, these penalties are usually a small fine and jail time not exceeding 24 hours. Personally, I think poaching should be charged to the same degree that the most heinous crimes (i.e. homicide, rape etc.) are charged.